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Saturday 19 November 2011

Haqqani back in Pak, will explain controversial memo

New Delhi: Pakistan's envoy to US Hussain Haqqani returned to Islamabad on Saturday night to explain the controversial memo that was allegedly written by Haqqani at the behest of Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari.

The memo sought US help to counter a possible army coup.

The word from Haqqani's backers in Islamabad is not clear but there seems little doubt their sympathies are very much with the flamboyant envoy.

On Saturday Geo News TV channel quoted Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani as saying that Haqqani had been called back to the country and it would be inappropriate to make a decision without hearing his stance.

But Gilani was less diplomatic in the parliament on Friday when he reportedly described as fabricated a memorandum critical of Pakistan's military leadership sent to Mike Mullen, until recently the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs.

The memorandum expressed concern over the situation following the killing of Osama bin Laden. It warned of a possible army coup and sought US intervention to ward it off - which would include overhaul of Pakistan's national security team to reflect a pro-US line.

The memo was drafted by Mansoor Ijaz, a US based businessman of Pakistani origin of dubious repute, who claimed he wrote exactly what Haqqani dictated. Haqqani denied it and in fact the memo was drafted in poor English. It was also dismissed by Mike Mullen as of no consequence.

The Islamabad rumour mills claim army chief Gen Kayani is upset as he suspects the civilian establishment is trying to discredit them. But the opposite is also claimed by the civilians that the army is plotting to get rid of them and the memo is a tool to do so.

Haqqani may well be absolved of any wrongdoing by the civilian government but sending him back to Washington could be seen as a slap in the face of the army - which no civilian government may risk.

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